In a fresh development in the controversy over the memoir penned by a former inmate of Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt alleging sexual abuse, a petition has been moved in Kerala High Court seeking a direction to CBI to register an FIR and launch investigation in accordance with law.
The petition was filed by Deepak Prakash, a Supreme Court lawyer.
When the plea came up before Justice K Ramakrishnan, he posted it after two weeks for hearing the government. The government pleader has been asked to file a report.
According to the petitioner, the incident of rape happened in a religious place and the victim was a foreign national.
The petitioner had lodged a complaint before police and thereafter the victim sent a mail to the petitioner corroborating the averments in the book and the petitioner forwarded the same to the concerned police officer including police commissioner and DGP for immediate action.
However, because of "political pressure", no action had been taken. Even no FIR was lodged, the petitioner stated.
Gail Tradwell, a former aide of Mata Amritanandamayi, had raised a storm in her book 'Holy Hell- a memoir of faith, devotion and pure madness' by alleging sexual exploitation and promiscuity among senior ashram inmates.
Police have asked Tradwell to give her statement on the basis of the complaint lodged by the petitioner.
The ashram has refuted the allegations, describing them as totally unfounded and that the institution had been functioning in a transparent manner.
Kerala Police had on February 26 decided not to register a case against the mutt on the advocate's plea in connection with the controversial book, saying the decision was taken after getting legal opinion in the matter.